View source for Marine Academy of Science and Technology

{{short description|Magnet high school in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox school
| name        = Marine Academy of Science and Technology
| imagesize   = 
| established = 1981
| type        = [[Magnet school|Magnet]] [[state school|public]] [[Secondary education in the United States|high school]]
| affiliation = [[National Sea Grant College Program|Sea-grant]]
| district    = [[Monmouth County Vocational School District]]
| image       = Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732.jpg
| grades      = [[ninth grade|9]]-[[twelfth grade|12]]
| principal   = Earl Moore<ref>[http://mast.ctemc.org/staff Staff Directory], Marine Academy of Science and Technology. Accessed February 16, 2022.</ref>
| enrollment  = 273 (as of 2023–24)<ref name=NCES/>
| faculty     = 27.0 [[full-time equivalent|FTEs]]<ref name=NCES/>
| ratio       = 10.1:1<ref name=NCES/>
| us_nces_school_id = 341750005989<ref name=NCES/>
| colors      = {{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Blue and gold
| address     = 305 MAST Way
| city        = [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown Township]]
| county      = [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]]
| state       = [[New Jersey]]
| zipcode     = 07732
| country     = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|40.45995|N|74.00055|W|source:placeopedia|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = USA New Jersey Monmouth County#USA New Jersey#USA
| accreditation = [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]]<ref name=MSA-CESS/>
| information = 
| website     = {{URL|https://mast.ctemc.org}}
}}
The '''Marine Academy of Science and Technology''' ('''MAST''') is a [[coeducation]]al four-year [[magnet school|magnet]] [[state school|public]] [[Secondary education in the United States|high school]] located in the [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]] section of [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown Township]], in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]], serving students in [[ninth grade|ninth]] through [[twelfth grade]]. The school offers learning in all subjects, specializing in marine science and technology. It is one of five career academies administered by the [[Monmouth County Vocational School District]] (MCVSD). MAST requires each student to participate in the Naval [[Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] (NJROTC) every year as well as an Annual Military Inspection (AMI) in the spring or fall. The school's curriculum focuses on marine sciences and marine technology/engineering. The school offers small classes with close personal attention.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 273 students and 27.0 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 10.1:1. There were 4 students (1.5% of enrollment) eligible for [[National School Lunch Act|free lunch]] and 1 (0.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417500&ID=341750005989 School data for Marine Academy Of Science And Technology], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

The school is accredited by the [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools.<ref name=MSA-CESS>[https://www.msa-cess.org/RelId/606553/AccountID/12224/ISvars/default/School_Search.htm Marine Academy of Science and Technology], [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed January 21, 2020.</ref> The Marine Academy is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. For the 1997–98 and 2013 school years, the Marine Academy was designated a [[Blue Ribbon School]] by the [[United States Department of Education]].<ref name=NBRS>[https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/reports/2019/1982_to_2019_nbrs_schools.pdf Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019], [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. Accessed January 21, 2020.</ref><ref name=BRS2013/> MAST was selected by the Department of Education as a [[New American High Schools|New American High School]] for the 1998–99 school year;<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-1998/nahs.html "Seven Schools Recognized as 'New American High Schools' - High Schools Noted for Academic Achievement, Reform Efforts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003151329/http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-1998/nahs.html |date=October 3, 2006 }}, press release dated November 12, 1998. [[United States Department of Education]]</ref> among the many honors and awards the innovative program has received throughout its years. On April 15, 2007, in honor of the Marine Academy's 25th Anniversary, a proclamation by the Monmouth County [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of Chosen Freeholders]] declared April 15 as "Marine Academy of Science and Technology Day" in Monmouth County.

==History==
Marine Academy was founded in 1981 as a part-time program which served an inaugural class of 53 students who attended their home high school in the mornings and took 2{{frac|1|2}} hours of classes at MAST in the afternoon.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/145967952/ "Fledgling marine school fighting for survival"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', November 9, 1981. Accessed February 16, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "The Marine Academy of Science and Technology, in its infancy this year under sponsorship of the Monmouth County Educational Services Commission, is looking for a philanthropist. Known to its 53 students from 18 high schools in Monmouth County by its acronym, MAST, the school on Sandy Hook is on the brink of going under.... The program is similar to vocational high school courses in that high school students attend their local regular school for half a day and attend MAST for 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon on what is known as a shared-time basis."</ref> The school has since become a full-time diploma-granting program.

==Location and campus==
MAST campus is located in the [[Fort Hancock, New Jersey|Fort Hancock]] Historic Area, as part of the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The school is adjacent to the [[Sandy Hook Lighthouse]], the oldest operating lighthouse in the country, and is within walking distance of several beaches. The campus includes 13 newly renovated buildings and various laboratories devoted to marine biology, marine chemistry, oceanography, C.A.D., and multi-media. The buildings were previously mess halls and latrines for the "Tent City" that was set up at Fort Hancock for a time during [[World War II]]. A Technology Workshop, a Media Center containing a Computer Classroom, a Naval Science Building, a state of the art wet lab in the James J. Howard Marine Science laboratory, and other classrooms round out the facilities. There is also hands-on instruction on the school research vessel, the ''R/V Blue Sea'' for underclassmen and some seniors. The "R/V Blue Sea" is currently berthed at the Coast Guard Station on Sandy Hook. This vessel is extensively used throughout many core classes in the curriculum including marine biology, marine chemistry, marine physics, and oceanography.<ref>[http://www.mast.mcvsd.org/mainframe.html A Brief look at M.A.S.T], accessed May 12, 2006.</ref>

In the wake of significant damage to the Sandy Hook campus following [[Hurricane Sandy]] in October 2012, the MAST campus was temporarily relocated to St. Joseph's School in [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]], in addition to the use of lab space at [[Brookdale Community College]].<ref>Rundquist, Jeanette. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/hurricane_sandy_aftermath_some.html "Hurricane Sandy aftermath: Some N.J. schools reopen with no heat, no lunch"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', November 6, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2012. "On Sandy Hook, officials from the Monmouth County Vocational School District yesterday got their first look at damage to the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, known as MAST.... But plans are to send the 280 high school students to class next Tuesday in the former St. Joseph's School in Keyport, and borrow science labs at the Brookdale Community College in Hazlet."</ref> As of September 9, 2013, MAST relocated back to its Sandy Hook campus.

== NJROTC ==
All students at the Marine Academy participate in the Navy [[Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps]] (NJROTC). The unit is designated as an Area 2 school and participates in many inter-unit competitions, the most prominent of which is the Drill Team. Cadets can participate in several disciplines including Freshmen, Color Guard, Armed Platoon, Unarmed Platoon, Unarmed Exhibition, and Armed Exhibition. In the past, MAST has been successful at several area competitions, including Neptune, Linden, and Areas. Exceptional performance in the Area 4 Drill Competition (placing first in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012) has qualified the school for national competition in [[Pensacola, Florida]] for those years. In 2016, the MAST Drill Team attended Navy Nationals once again in [[Pensacola, Florida]], their first time back since 2012.

Each year, cadets take a physical fitness test (PFT). The standards for this exam are based upon Navy guidelines. Grades range from "unsatisfactory" to "outstanding", and the result forms a part of the Naval Science grade for credit. Satisfactory PFT performance is a criterion for advancement and promotion.

At the end of each year, qualified cadets are promoted to a rank and billet commensurate with academic performance, ability, and PFT results. The MAST unit is organized into a battalion with four companies and a headquarters section. The highest rank a cadet can achieve is Cadet Commander.

==Awards==
* For the 1997-1998 and 2013 school years, Marine Academy of Science and Technology received the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.<ref name=NBRS/>
* MAST was one of two high schools recognized by the New Jersey "Star School" program in its inaugural year of 1993–94.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061218221123/http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss3.pl?string=id%3D015&maxhits=10000 Star School Award recipient detail], [[New Jersey Department of Education]], Archived December 18, 2006. Accessed November 26, 2009.</ref> MAST has been honored twice since with the New Jersey Department of Education's highest recognition for a New Jersey school, in both 1997-98 and 2003–04.<ref name="nj.gov">[http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss.pl New Jersey Star Schools Program Winners<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* For the 1998–1999 school year, MAST received additional national recognition as the New American High School.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-1998/nahs.html SEVEN SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED AS "NEW AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS" - High Schools Noted for Academic Achievement, Reform Efforts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003151329/http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-1998/nahs.html |date=October 3, 2006 }}.</ref>
* Best Practice Award (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003)
* New Jersey Governor's School of Excellence Award, October 2005
* [[Intel Schools of Distinction|Intel Scholastic 21st Century Schools of Distinction]], 2004 finalist
* Toyota Tapestry Award, 2002
* Designation as NJROTC Honor Unit/CNET Unit or Distinguished Unit with Honors: every year since 1990
*In 2005–06, the school averaged a 1875 combined SAT score, sixth highest of all public high schools statewide.<ref>[http://www.nj.com/news/reportcard/index.ssf?/str/reportcards/rankings/print.asp?frmsql=select+dist%5Fcod%2C+sch%5Fcode%2Cco%5Fname%2C+ldistric%2C+lname%2Ctested+%2C+allpasse++as+target+from+testcube+where+sgroup+%3D+%27aTotal%27+and+year+%3D+%270506%27+and+testprg+%3D+%27SAT%27+and+subject+%3D+%27SAT+Total%27+and+tested+%3E%3D+0+and+level+%3D+%27s%27+Order+by+allpasse+desc%2C+tested+desc&frmcounty=Statewide&frmgroup=aTotal&frmyear=0506&frmtest=SAT&frmsubject=SAT%20Total&frmdfg=All&frmtested=0&frmmeasure=allpasse 2005-06 School Test Score Rankings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005071408/http://www.nj.com/news/reportcard/index.ssf?%2Fstr%2Freportcards%2Frankings%2Fprint.asp%3Ffrmsql=select+dist_cod%2C+sch_code%2Cco_name%2C+ldistric%2C+lname%2Ctested+%2C+allpasse++as+target+from+testcube+where+sgroup+%3D+%27aTotal%27+and+year+%3D+%270506%27+and+testprg+%3D+%27SAT%27+and+subject+%3D+%27SAT+Total%27+and+tested+%3E%3D+0+and+level+%3D+%27s%27+Order+by+allpasse+desc%2C+tested+desc&frmcounty=Statewide&frmgroup=aTotal&frmyear=0506&frmtest=SAT&frmsubject=SAT%20Total&frmdfg=All&frmtested=0&frmmeasure=allpasse |date=October 5, 2016 }}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]''. Accessed June 19, 2007.</ref>
*In April 2010, the MAST Ocean Bowl team competed at the [[National Ocean Sciences Bowl]] and placed 2nd in the nation.<ref>[http://www.oceanleadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/NOSBFinals_PR.pdf National Ocean Sciences Bowl Finals 2010], [[National Ocean Sciences Bowl]]. Accessed May 2, 2010.</ref>
*Schooldigger.com ranked the school as one of 16 schools tied for first out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (unchanged from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy (100.0%) and mathematics (100.0%) components of the [[High School Proficiency Assessment]] (HSPA).<ref>[https://archive.today/20120919144901/http://www.schooldigger.com/schoolrank.aspx?Level=3&findschool=1750005989 New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011], Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 22, 2012.</ref>
*In its 2013 report on  "America's Best High Schools", ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' ranked the school 364th in the nation among participating public high schools and 33rd among schools in New Jersey.<ref>Streib, Lauren. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html "America's Best High Schools"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508145653/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html |date=May 8, 2013 }}, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.</ref>
*In September 2013, the academy was one of 15 in New Jersey to be recognized by the [[United States Department of Education]] as part of the [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]], an award called the "most prestigious honor in the United States' education system" and which Education Secretary [[Arne Duncan]] described as schools that "represent examples of educational excellence".<ref name=BRS2013>[http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2013/national.pdf#page=15 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private], pp. 15-17. [[United States Department of Education]], [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. Accessed September 25, 2013.</ref><ref>Rundquist, Jeanette. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/15_nj_schools_named_as_national_blue_ribbon_winners.html "15 N.J. schools named as national 'Blue Ribbon' winners"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', September 24, 2013. Accessed September 25, 2013. "Five Catholic schools, six county vocational-technical schools and a Yeshiva are among the list of honored schools in New Jersey. Also named as 2013 Blue Ribbon Schools were Dover, Harrison and Wildwood high schools."</ref>
*In April 2015 MAST was one of nine schools in the nation recognized by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) with the Excellence in Action Award. MAST won for its Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography program. NASDCTEc Executive Director, Kimberly Green, said of the winning programs, "Incredibly successful graduating their students at above average rates, building strong industry and community partnerships, and increasing students chances to obtain postsecondary credit and degrees and industry-recognized credentials," <ref name="NASDCTEc2015">Moore, Earl. [http://www.app.com/story/getpublished/2015/04/20/mast-wins-excellence-in-action-award/26080833/ "MAST wins Excellence in Action award"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', April 20, 2015. Accessed November 11, 2016.</ref>

In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 181st out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 28th among all high schools in New Jersey.<ref>Staff. [http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-high-schools-2016 "America's Best High Schools 2016"], ''[[Newsweek]]''. Accessed November 11, 2016.</ref>

==Other career academies==
There are five other career academies / [[sister school]]s in the [[Monmouth County Vocational School District]]. The other schools (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the [[National Center for Education Statistics]]<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417500 School Data for the Monmouth County Vocational School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>) are:<ref>[https://www.mcvsd.org/o/mcvsd/page/schools Full-Time Specialized Schools], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed February 2, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/25/3260 School Performance Reports for the Monmouth County Vocational School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/3260 New Jersey School Directory for the Monmouth County Vocational School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
* [[Academy of Allied Health & Science]] (AAHS) in [[Neptune Township, New Jersey|Neptune Township]]<ref>[https://www.aahs.mcvsd.org/o/aahs Academy of Allied Health & Science], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed March 25, 2025.</ref> (with 304 students; in grades 9–12)
* Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS) in [[Long Branch, New Jersey|Long Branch]]<ref>[https://www.mcvsd.org/o/alps Academy of Law and Public Safety], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed March 25, 2025.</ref> (70; 9–12)
* [[Biotechnology High School]] (BTHS) in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]]<ref>[https://bths.mcvsd.org/o/bhs Biotechnology High School], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed March 25, 2025.</ref> (320; 9–12)
* [[Communications High School]] (CHS) in [[Wall Township, New Jersey|Wall Township]]<ref>[https://chs.mcvsd.org/o/chs Communications High School], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed March 25, 2025.</ref> (299; 9–12)
* [[High Technology High School]] (HTHS) in the [[Lincroft, New Jersey|Lincroft]] section of [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown Township]]<ref>[https://hths.mcvsd.org/o/hths High Technology High School], Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed March 25, 2025.</ref> (284; 9–12)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://mast.ctemc.org/ Marine Academy of Science and Technology]
*[https://www.mcvsd.org/ Monmouth County Vocational School District]
*{{NJReportCard|25|3260|020|Marine Academy of Science and Technology}}
*[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417500 School Data for the Monmouth County Vocational School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]

==See Also==
*[[Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science]] in Ocean County, NJ

{{Middletown, New Jersey}}
{{Monmouth County, New Jersey High Schools}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marine Academy Of Science And Technology}}
[[Category:Middletown Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1981]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Monmouth County Vocational School District School]]
[[Category:Military high schools in the United States]]
[[Category:Public high schools in Monmouth County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sandy Hook, New Jersey]]